So, I set off at about 8:30 with the 55mile target set firmly in my mind.
About 7 or 8 miles in, on a climb, I noticed something strange on the bicycle computer: my speed was flicking between 11mph, 7 mph, 4 mph and back again in the space of about 10 seconds. I hadn't changed my cadence so I couldn't figure out what was going on. I thought it may have been magnetic interference or something. An alien craft buried beneath the hill I was climbing seemed the most logical conclusion. However, after further thought I decided that the battery in the computer may need changing. I engaged Sportstracker knowing that if I rode exactly the same route back, with a bit of mathematics I'd be able to work out the mileage for the entire ride.
I stopped three times on the ride: twice to eat some malt loaf and once to do a wee.
I passed loads of mountain bikers.
I raced an older bloke on a road bike. He dropped me after about 2 miles.
I saw some lovely countryside in the sunshine.
I saw lots of Japanese tourists around the Shakespearey parts.
I saw at least 50 or so Eastern Europeans in tracksuits smoking and walking for miles along Luddington Road.
By the time I got home I was tired, but my legs and lungs were OK. My bum hurt.
The cycle computer claims the ride was 57.12 miles at 13.5mph.
Sportstracker claims the ride was 57.36 at 13.3mph:
http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/Teece/9j1b7rr3e4c0l2hr
The important thing is that I cracked 55 miles and I'm well chuffed! Just another 20 to find!
Sunday, 13 May 2012
Saturday, 7 April 2012
Days to go: 86 [late report]
Had a lazy morning and didn't actually get up until 9am! After a healthy brekkie I eventually got on the bike at about 11. And set my personal best average speed! I was well chuffed with the results today: 15.46 miles at 15.3mph with 30.1mph top speed! I treated it like a 15 mile sprint and was rather red-faced and shaky when I got back to base.
Mom and Dad came to visit today and a result, Lucy got out all the lovely food and did some fantastic homemade cooking. We also opened a couple of bottles of cava...
So, good exercise, terrible diet and some booze. Sound familiar?
Food
Muesli with soya milk
Lots of homemade quiche with pork pie, scotch eggs, cucumber, tomatoes, coleslaw, ham and bread.
Rolo dessert
Apple strudel with custard AND ice cream
Exercise
Cycling: 15.46 miles
Booze
4 or 5 glasses of cava
Thursday, 5 April 2012
Days to go: 87
After the healthy brekkie and some decorating, Lucy and I cycled to Solihull and back. It's only about 3 miles or so but at least it gets the blood pumping. After I picked Mouse up from school, she revealed some more Easter eggs! So Martha and I lounged around eating Mouse's chocolate while she did her exercises on the XBox Kinect!
After a huge chicken dinner I did some weight lifting, setting 3 personal bests!
It's now 11:15 and everyone is asleep. I think I might just treat myself to a glass of wine...
Food
Muesli with soya milk
chunk of homemade flapjack with a cup of redbush tea
slice of homemade chocolate cake with a cup of redbush tea
an Easter egg!
huge chicken dinner with green beans, potatoes, Yorkshire puds, peas, sprouts and broccoli
Exercise
Cycling: 3-4 miles
Press-ups: 87
Tricep-dips: 87
Sit-ups:87
Dumbbell curls[15kg]: 10/9/8
Barbell Squats[33kg]: 10/8/8
Barbell curls[33kg]: 9/8/8
Overhead presses [32kg]: 10/9/8
Booze
Probably going to have 1 glass of white wine now...
After a huge chicken dinner I did some weight lifting, setting 3 personal bests!
It's now 11:15 and everyone is asleep. I think I might just treat myself to a glass of wine...
Food
Muesli with soya milk
chunk of homemade flapjack with a cup of redbush tea
slice of homemade chocolate cake with a cup of redbush tea
an Easter egg!
huge chicken dinner with green beans, potatoes, Yorkshire puds, peas, sprouts and broccoli
Exercise
Cycling: 3-4 miles
Press-ups: 87
Tricep-dips: 87
Sit-ups:87
Dumbbell curls[15kg]: 10/9/8
Barbell Squats[33kg]: 10/8/8
Barbell curls[33kg]: 9/8/8
Overhead presses [32kg]: 10/9/8
Booze
Probably going to have 1 glass of white wine now...
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Days to go: 88
Up early doors to have my porridge and be at Dan's by 8:30. Today, we planned to cycle over the Lickey Hills, over Waseley Hills and around the Clent Hills. We intended to be out all day and had plenty of food and water with us. Unfortunately, the weather was against us.
When we set off, both of us were suffering with hands numbed by the cold winds and snow. Me being in shorts didn't help either... By the time we got up on the Waseley hills the snow was being driven at us HORIZONTALLY. We were the only people on the hills and the snow was hitting us so hard that my face and legs were stinging and felt like I'd fell into nettles. We were being blown 3 or 4 metres off the trail and it was impossible to look ahead, I had to turn my head out of the wind and just snatch glances of the way forward every few seconds. We were almost at the top of the Waseley Hills when we decided it was silly to carry on. I was enjoying the challenge but was not enjoying the ride. My shorts and socks were completely wet through and I was getting more and more sore with every turn of the pedal. Dan called me back and we headed down out of the blizzard and made it to the warmth of the Lickey Hills visitor's centre. In all, we rode only 13 miles today, but it was the kind of riding that toughens a person up.
The rest of the day was spent doing more decorating, eating lovely food and playing with the kids.
Food
rolled oats porridge with raisins made with soya milk
handful of cashew nuts
big chunks of homemade flapjack
4 slices of malt loaf
6 cups of tea [4 redbush, 2 normal]
2 salmon steaks with brown rice and veggies [Lucy's spicy rice]
1 banana
Exercise
cycling: 13 miles [off-road in a blizzard]
Booze
none
When we set off, both of us were suffering with hands numbed by the cold winds and snow. Me being in shorts didn't help either... By the time we got up on the Waseley hills the snow was being driven at us HORIZONTALLY. We were the only people on the hills and the snow was hitting us so hard that my face and legs were stinging and felt like I'd fell into nettles. We were being blown 3 or 4 metres off the trail and it was impossible to look ahead, I had to turn my head out of the wind and just snatch glances of the way forward every few seconds. We were almost at the top of the Waseley Hills when we decided it was silly to carry on. I was enjoying the challenge but was not enjoying the ride. My shorts and socks were completely wet through and I was getting more and more sore with every turn of the pedal. Dan called me back and we headed down out of the blizzard and made it to the warmth of the Lickey Hills visitor's centre. In all, we rode only 13 miles today, but it was the kind of riding that toughens a person up.
The rest of the day was spent doing more decorating, eating lovely food and playing with the kids.
Food
rolled oats porridge with raisins made with soya milk
handful of cashew nuts
big chunks of homemade flapjack
4 slices of malt loaf
6 cups of tea [4 redbush, 2 normal]
2 salmon steaks with brown rice and veggies [Lucy's spicy rice]
1 banana
Exercise
cycling: 13 miles [off-road in a blizzard]
Booze
none
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Days to go: 89
Today was a reasonable day as far as the training went, apart from an Easter egg disaster...
Up at 7 for my healthy muesli and then got on with some decorating when the kids had gone to school. I was supplied with tea and healthy snacks by Lucy and she also made a great lunch of homemade soup.
When Mouse came home from school I was FORCED to share an Easter egg with her while she played Pokemon on the DS and I watched the Tour of Flanders...
After that, I went off to the dojo for a fairly easy martial arts session, and then home for a carb-laden dinner in readiness for the day out mountain biking tomorrow!
Food
Muesli with soya milk
2 muffins with Marmite
4 slices of malt loaf
2 cups of redbush tea
homemade carrot soup with 2 wholemeal baps
half an Easter egg and some choccy buttons!
bowl of tuna and loads of wholewheat pasta
Exercise
90 mins of martial arts
Booze
none
Up at 7 for my healthy muesli and then got on with some decorating when the kids had gone to school. I was supplied with tea and healthy snacks by Lucy and she also made a great lunch of homemade soup.
When Mouse came home from school I was FORCED to share an Easter egg with her while she played Pokemon on the DS and I watched the Tour of Flanders...
After that, I went off to the dojo for a fairly easy martial arts session, and then home for a carb-laden dinner in readiness for the day out mountain biking tomorrow!
Food
Muesli with soya milk
2 muffins with Marmite
4 slices of malt loaf
2 cups of redbush tea
homemade carrot soup with 2 wholemeal baps
half an Easter egg and some choccy buttons!
bowl of tuna and loads of wholewheat pasta
Exercise
90 mins of martial arts
Booze
none
Monday, 2 April 2012
Days to go: 90
This is my last chance to get my fitness levels up to where they need to be to complete the 75 miles of the Birmingham to Oxford ride in July. Obviously, the theft of the Boardman was a big set-back, but, to be honest, I wasn't training anywhere near as hard as I need to if I'm to have a successful ride on July 1st. Over the next 90 days I will be laying off the booze and eating cleaner and training harder than I have done since I first started martial arts 12 years ago. I'll be using a combination of weight training, road cycling, mountain biking and martial arts to get my weight down and my fitness up. All of this combined with a healthy diet of course...
So, today I was out on the bike at about 9.20am. I did the same 45 mile route that I did in February. This time I was a lot faster and came home strong instead of limping home in the tiny gears. It still beat the hell out of me though and walking up the stairs has hurt all day! My average speed was 13.6mph.
Stayed in tonight and played with the kids and then took it easy on the couch with Lucy.
Food
Muesli with soya milk
2 bananas
handful of cashew nuts
big chunk of homemade flapjack
a slice of ham
tuna, cucumber and tomatoes on wholemeal bap
homemade Moroccan lamb with couscous
Exercise
Cycling: 45.2 miles
Booze
none
So, today I was out on the bike at about 9.20am. I did the same 45 mile route that I did in February. This time I was a lot faster and came home strong instead of limping home in the tiny gears. It still beat the hell out of me though and walking up the stairs has hurt all day! My average speed was 13.6mph.
Stayed in tonight and played with the kids and then took it easy on the couch with Lucy.
Food
Muesli with soya milk
2 bananas
handful of cashew nuts
big chunk of homemade flapjack
a slice of ham
tuna, cucumber and tomatoes on wholemeal bap
homemade Moroccan lamb with couscous
Exercise
Cycling: 45.2 miles
Booze
none
Saturday, 17 March 2012
Cycled into work, ate healthily, cycled home, jumped on the mountain bike and took Montydog around the park, the children gave me some sweets, did a session on the weights, had a very healthy dinner, drank a small [330ml] beer, in bed before midnight!
Food
homemade muesli with soya milk
1 banana
2 satsumas
several sesame wholegrain rye crispbreads with hummus
2 salmon steaks with cabbage and brown rice
2 sweets and a 2 blocks of Galaxy
Exercise
Press-ups: 82
Tricep-dips: 82
Sit-ups: 82
Dumbbell curls [15kg]: 9/8/8
Barbell squats [33kg]: 8/8/8
Barbell curls [32kg]: 10/10/10
Booze
one bottle of lager [330ml]
Food
homemade muesli with soya milk
1 banana
2 satsumas
several sesame wholegrain rye crispbreads with hummus
2 salmon steaks with cabbage and brown rice
2 sweets and a 2 blocks of Galaxy
Exercise
Press-ups: 82
Tricep-dips: 82
Sit-ups: 82
Dumbbell curls [15kg]: 9/8/8
Barbell squats [33kg]: 8/8/8
Barbell curls [32kg]: 10/10/10
Booze
one bottle of lager [330ml]
Friday, 16 March 2012
March 15th - Day 75
Cycled in on the Holdsworth after my healthy brekkie.
A nice lady at work had brought in some crispbread for me. I checked them out and they had more carbs than protein, and more protein than fat. So I got stuck in.
At lunch time I went for a quick blast up and down a hill on the Holdsworth. For the first time I switched it off the dinner plate and on to the small ring...it was almost a revelation. The bike became an entirely different beast, no longer did I feel like I was balanced atop a frame that was too big for me. Now I felt I had more control and was more connected to the bike!
On the ride home, I felt that I didn't want to stop when I reached the house - the first time I've had that feeling on this bike. Why riding in the small ring has made such a difference I don't know, but I'm glad it has.
Lucy had prepared a wonderful homemade beef casserole with loads of vegetables. I set myself a personal challenge and ate three platefuls [with a leftover veggie sausage from Martha.]
Not wanting to let all that goodness go to waste [waist!] I increased my weight lifting targets again and got stuck into an hour long session.
I had a moment of weakness at about 10pm and drank a glass of white wine that someone had left in the front room...
Food
homemade muesli with soya milk
1 plum
1 banana
1 satsuma
several sesame wholegrain rye crispbreads with hummus
Lucy's amazing beef casserole with carrots, cabbage, peas, broccoli, sprouts and green beans
a vegetarian sausage
Exercise
Press-ups: 80
Tricep-dips: 80
Sit-ups: 80
Dumbbell curls [15kg]: 8/8/8
Barbell squats [32kg]: 10/10/10
Barbell curls [32kg]: 10/10/9
Overhead presses [32kg]: 10/8/8
Booze
one glass of white wine
A nice lady at work had brought in some crispbread for me. I checked them out and they had more carbs than protein, and more protein than fat. So I got stuck in.
At lunch time I went for a quick blast up and down a hill on the Holdsworth. For the first time I switched it off the dinner plate and on to the small ring...it was almost a revelation. The bike became an entirely different beast, no longer did I feel like I was balanced atop a frame that was too big for me. Now I felt I had more control and was more connected to the bike!
On the ride home, I felt that I didn't want to stop when I reached the house - the first time I've had that feeling on this bike. Why riding in the small ring has made such a difference I don't know, but I'm glad it has.
Lucy had prepared a wonderful homemade beef casserole with loads of vegetables. I set myself a personal challenge and ate three platefuls [with a leftover veggie sausage from Martha.]
Not wanting to let all that goodness go to waste [waist!] I increased my weight lifting targets again and got stuck into an hour long session.
I had a moment of weakness at about 10pm and drank a glass of white wine that someone had left in the front room...
Food
homemade muesli with soya milk
1 plum
1 banana
1 satsuma
several sesame wholegrain rye crispbreads with hummus
Lucy's amazing beef casserole with carrots, cabbage, peas, broccoli, sprouts and green beans
a vegetarian sausage
Exercise
Press-ups: 80
Tricep-dips: 80
Sit-ups: 80
Dumbbell curls [15kg]: 8/8/8
Barbell squats [32kg]: 10/10/10
Barbell curls [32kg]: 10/10/9
Overhead presses [32kg]: 10/8/8
Booze
one glass of white wine
Thursday, 15 March 2012
March 14th - Day 74
Didn't get to cycle this morning - we took the car because I thought I was going to pick up a new road bike after work, but it didn't work out. Details next week...
Healthy eating all day - the highlight being fresh plaice and cabbage tastily prepared by Lucy.
At home, I got stuck into the most intense weights/exercise session so far. Went to bed hungry, aching and feeling quite smug.
Food
homemade muesli with soya milk
1 banana
1 satsuma
tuna, sweetcorn and salad
fresh plaice fried in olive oil with boiled cabbage
1 bowl of natural yoghurt with raisins and cranberries
Exercise
78 press-ups
78 sit-ups
78 tricep-dips
dumbbell curls [14kg]: 10/10/10
barbell squats [32kg]: 10/10/9
barbell curls [32kg]: 10/10/8
overhead presses [32kg]: 9/8/8
Booze
none
Healthy eating all day - the highlight being fresh plaice and cabbage tastily prepared by Lucy.
At home, I got stuck into the most intense weights/exercise session so far. Went to bed hungry, aching and feeling quite smug.
Food
homemade muesli with soya milk
1 banana
1 satsuma
tuna, sweetcorn and salad
fresh plaice fried in olive oil with boiled cabbage
1 bowl of natural yoghurt with raisins and cranberries
Exercise
78 press-ups
78 sit-ups
78 tricep-dips
dumbbell curls [14kg]: 10/10/10
barbell squats [32kg]: 10/10/9
barbell curls [32kg]: 10/10/8
overhead presses [32kg]: 9/8/8
Booze
none
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
March 13th - Day 73
After a healthy brekkie I cycled into work on the Holdsworth. Unfortunately, after doing about 40 miles total on it, it is now beginning to sound a bit like a bag of spanners. I think one of the pedals is shot and something has worked itself loose on the back wheel. Oh well, it is a classic afterall...
Mouse visited me at work and came bearing a gift - a Cadbury Cream Egg. I couldn't say no, it would have been rude...
Cycle home [accompanied by the sound of a bucket of ball-bearings being stirred by a screwdriver] and then off to dojo for the most intense work-out this year. There were only 7 of us tonight, all blokes, and I was the lowest ranked. Very sweaty, very physical, very good session. I have 7 days to decide whether to grade this month or wait until the summer.
Home for Lucy's homemade veggie chilli and lying on the couch!
Food
homemade muesli with soya milk
chicken and mustard on wholemeal bap
1 banana
1 satsuma
handful of peanuts
1 Cadbury Cream Egg!
bowl of homemade veggie chilli with three wholemeal pitta breads
Exercise
cycling: 9.2 miles
90 mins of martial arts
Booze
none
Mouse visited me at work and came bearing a gift - a Cadbury Cream Egg. I couldn't say no, it would have been rude...
Cycle home [accompanied by the sound of a bucket of ball-bearings being stirred by a screwdriver] and then off to dojo for the most intense work-out this year. There were only 7 of us tonight, all blokes, and I was the lowest ranked. Very sweaty, very physical, very good session. I have 7 days to decide whether to grade this month or wait until the summer.
Home for Lucy's homemade veggie chilli and lying on the couch!
Food
homemade muesli with soya milk
chicken and mustard on wholemeal bap
1 banana
1 satsuma
handful of peanuts
1 Cadbury Cream Egg!
bowl of homemade veggie chilli with three wholemeal pitta breads
Exercise
cycling: 9.2 miles
90 mins of martial arts
Booze
none
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
March 12th - Day 72
Well it's been about a week without an update. To be honest, I haven't been doing much besides taking it easy and drinking beer.
I starting to feel a bit better [since having the bike nicked] and I'm certainly ready to start taking the training a lot more seriously. So:
I don't get to ride on Mondays because of school run duties [which I love] so the only things I could do were eat healthily and lift a few weights after dinner.
Food
Homemade muesli with soya milk
1 banana
1 satsuma
1 plum
Chicken and cucumber on wholemeal bap
Teece's stir fry [chicken, onion, mushrooms, green pepper, garlic, olive oil] with wholewheat noodles.
Exercise
Press-ups: 75
Tricep-dips: 75
Dumbbell curls [14kg]: 10/10/9
Barbell squats [32kg]: 10/10/8
Booze
none
I starting to feel a bit better [since having the bike nicked] and I'm certainly ready to start taking the training a lot more seriously. So:
I don't get to ride on Mondays because of school run duties [which I love] so the only things I could do were eat healthily and lift a few weights after dinner.
Food
Homemade muesli with soya milk
1 banana
1 satsuma
1 plum
Chicken and cucumber on wholemeal bap
Teece's stir fry [chicken, onion, mushrooms, green pepper, garlic, olive oil] with wholewheat noodles.
Exercise
Press-ups: 75
Tricep-dips: 75
Dumbbell curls [14kg]: 10/10/9
Barbell squats [32kg]: 10/10/8
Booze
none
Monday, 5 March 2012
5th March - Day 65
Drove to work today.
Ate healthily and had a sneaky beer while I cooked dinner.
A day of rest as far as the training is concerned.
Food
homemade muesli with soya milk
ham and pickle on wholemeal bap
1 banana
2 satsumas
Teece's stir fry [chicken, onion, mushrooms, garlic, bean sprouts, soy sauce, olive oil] with wholewheat noodles.
Exercise
none
Booze
1 bottle of ale
Ate healthily and had a sneaky beer while I cooked dinner.
A day of rest as far as the training is concerned.
Food
homemade muesli with soya milk
ham and pickle on wholemeal bap
1 banana
2 satsumas
Teece's stir fry [chicken, onion, mushrooms, garlic, bean sprouts, soy sauce, olive oil] with wholewheat noodles.
Exercise
none
Booze
1 bottle of ale
March 4th - Day 64 [very late]
At lunch time I got on the canal with the mountain bike and did around 11 miles. It was incredibly wet down there and everything I was wearing got soaked through. So I was very cold, very quickly which is why the ride was so short. Straight home for hot shower.
Off to Jane and Eric's to be fed again and then stayed up late with booze while I felt sad about my bike.
Off to Jane and Eric's to be fed again and then stayed up late with booze while I felt sad about my bike.
Sunday, 4 March 2012
March 3rd - Day 63
Up at 6:30 for porridge and then to meet up with the AMBS [Dan] for a morning ride. We started off in Alvechurch, through the Lickey Hills (which is a huge place when you have to ride all the way through it) and then up into the Waseley Hills. It was a fantastic ride, with hardly any road riding involved at all. We found lots of winding single track, alleyways, bridle paths and even public footpaths[!] to travel along.At the top of the Waseley Hills there was a dense mist obscuring most of the views which reminded us of our experiences climbing The Beast in Wales. Soaked through but very happy, we made our way back whilst making plans to ride this route again and take it even further out to the Clent Hills.
Training wise, the route is fantastic with LOTS of hilly climbing over rough terrain that really tests lungs and legs.
Today's ride was 19 miles which wouldn't be much on a road bike but on an MTB up and down muddy, wet, rooty trials it was quite an effort.
I set Sportstracker to record the ride but it went a bit bonkers again and was connecting up parts of the ride with perfectly straight lines which leads me to suspect that we may have travelled slightly more than 19 miles today...
In the evening we travelled to Jane and Eric's to get spoiled with lots of lovely food and drink...
Food
Rolled oats porridge with raisins and cranberries with soya milk
Half of Dan's energy bar
1 banana
A bowl of homemade muesli with soya milk
A bowl of homemade beef chilli
Slice of homemade chocolate cake
Slice of homemade cheesecake
Homemade apple crumble with ice cream
Exercise
Cycling: 19 miles off road
Booze
3 glasses of cava
Training wise, the route is fantastic with LOTS of hilly climbing over rough terrain that really tests lungs and legs.
Today's ride was 19 miles which wouldn't be much on a road bike but on an MTB up and down muddy, wet, rooty trials it was quite an effort.
I set Sportstracker to record the ride but it went a bit bonkers again and was connecting up parts of the ride with perfectly straight lines which leads me to suspect that we may have travelled slightly more than 19 miles today...
In the evening we travelled to Jane and Eric's to get spoiled with lots of lovely food and drink...
Food
Rolled oats porridge with raisins and cranberries with soya milk
Half of Dan's energy bar
1 banana
A bowl of homemade muesli with soya milk
A bowl of homemade beef chilli
Slice of homemade chocolate cake
Slice of homemade cheesecake
Homemade apple crumble with ice cream
Exercise
Cycling: 19 miles off road
Booze
3 glasses of cava
Friday, 2 March 2012
March 2nd - Day 62
As most of you already know, the Boardman bike was stolen from the drive on Wednesday night.
When I realised it was gone I at first thought it was a joke. It quickly turned to rage, directed as much at myself as to the scum who took it. I had leaned the bike up against the garage door on the drive when I got back home from work instead of taking it in straight away.
I won't be making that mistake again.
I spent Thursday in a kind of zombie-like state. Well, that's what it must have looked like from the outside, anyway. Inside I was a boiling mass of emotions and feelings. Hate and disbelief, sadness, self-pity, rage and then back to hatred again. As the day went on, after stumbling through tense lessons and a silent lunch break, I found that every feeling faded away inside me except for...despair. I have no idea of the amount of times I had retraced my steps of Wednesday night in my mind.
why, WHY, WHY didn't I just take the fucking bike inside when I got home from work!?
And of course, with the bike not being locked, the insurance company don't have to pay out a penny.
But it's not just the loss of the thing itself that hurts, not just the missing bike. It's the knowledge of what will come: the missing Sunday mornings in country lanes, missing the the sun in my eyes as I churn my way uphill, missing the greetings of other cyclists as we whir past each other, almost silently, in the empty lanes around Stratford Upon Avon. I'll miss meeting myself on that saddle when I'm halfway up a monster hill, seeing what I'm made of when legs and lungs are burning, in the middle of some awful calorie-deficient effort. I'll miss the hours spent inside my own mind, detached from the body in its rhythmic turning and pushing and pulling.
I'll miss seeing what sort of a man I can be.
I'll miss my bike, my birthday present from my brother, my way to work, my thing of beauty silently waiting in the cold of the garage, my freedom, my passion.
But, what of the Birmingham to Oxford charity ride?
I made a decision this morning, or maybe last night I think. My wonderful Lucy and the girls looked after me when I shuffled in from posting up reward notices for my missing bike last night. Lucy was determined that I should continue being a road cyclist, the girls in their innocence are convinced that I'll find my bike again. All their positive belief and hugs made me have a sudden attack of hayfever... Then we walked to the Harvester for lots of ice cream and beer, and piggy-backs and belching!
So, when everyone was in bed and it was just me and a beer and crap TV I decided that I will still ride the charity event, for Lucy and the girls as much as for myself. I don't know what I'll ride it on yet, I just know that I'll do it.
As from tomorrow, I'll continue the regular training blogs. All the riding will be on the mountain bike for now, obviously.
Incidently, today I cycled to work and didn't drink any beer. Just saying...
When I realised it was gone I at first thought it was a joke. It quickly turned to rage, directed as much at myself as to the scum who took it. I had leaned the bike up against the garage door on the drive when I got back home from work instead of taking it in straight away.
I won't be making that mistake again.
I spent Thursday in a kind of zombie-like state. Well, that's what it must have looked like from the outside, anyway. Inside I was a boiling mass of emotions and feelings. Hate and disbelief, sadness, self-pity, rage and then back to hatred again. As the day went on, after stumbling through tense lessons and a silent lunch break, I found that every feeling faded away inside me except for...despair. I have no idea of the amount of times I had retraced my steps of Wednesday night in my mind.
why, WHY, WHY didn't I just take the fucking bike inside when I got home from work!?
And of course, with the bike not being locked, the insurance company don't have to pay out a penny.
But it's not just the loss of the thing itself that hurts, not just the missing bike. It's the knowledge of what will come: the missing Sunday mornings in country lanes, missing the the sun in my eyes as I churn my way uphill, missing the greetings of other cyclists as we whir past each other, almost silently, in the empty lanes around Stratford Upon Avon. I'll miss meeting myself on that saddle when I'm halfway up a monster hill, seeing what I'm made of when legs and lungs are burning, in the middle of some awful calorie-deficient effort. I'll miss the hours spent inside my own mind, detached from the body in its rhythmic turning and pushing and pulling.
I'll miss seeing what sort of a man I can be.
I'll miss my bike, my birthday present from my brother, my way to work, my thing of beauty silently waiting in the cold of the garage, my freedom, my passion.
But, what of the Birmingham to Oxford charity ride?
I made a decision this morning, or maybe last night I think. My wonderful Lucy and the girls looked after me when I shuffled in from posting up reward notices for my missing bike last night. Lucy was determined that I should continue being a road cyclist, the girls in their innocence are convinced that I'll find my bike again. All their positive belief and hugs made me have a sudden attack of hayfever... Then we walked to the Harvester for lots of ice cream and beer, and piggy-backs and belching!
So, when everyone was in bed and it was just me and a beer and crap TV I decided that I will still ride the charity event, for Lucy and the girls as much as for myself. I don't know what I'll ride it on yet, I just know that I'll do it.
As from tomorrow, I'll continue the regular training blogs. All the riding will be on the mountain bike for now, obviously.
Incidently, today I cycled to work and didn't drink any beer. Just saying...
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Feb 26th - Day 57
hungover.
loads of comfort food
went to the pub
some comfort booze
bed in a minute
loads of comfort food
went to the pub
some comfort booze
bed in a minute
Feb 25th - Day 56 [incredibly late]
Up at 6:30am for porridge. Got on the bike about an hour later. It was still quite cold that time in the morning so I still had the winter gloves on and I was freezing in my shorts. About an hour later, the day had warmed up and I was really enjoying my ride. I turned at Anne Hathaway's cottage and headed for home, stopping for a banana and a glug of water on the way. At about 6 miles from home I realised that I was really starting to feel ill. I got worse and worse and eventually had to limp home in the tiny gears. I simply hadn't eaten or drank enough. I rode 45.3 miles at 12.7mph
I discuss this ride in more detail here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40020&t=12838500
I recovered during the afternoon and then Lucy and I went out for dinner with my family. I ate loads of unhealthy food and drank three pints. Then We went home and stayed up until 4am talking and drinking...
Food
rolled oats porridge with raisins and cranberries with soya milk
1 banana
2 wholemeal pittas with peanut butter
1 pint of soya milk
Salmon with new potatoes, chips, cabbage, potato wedges, mushrooms and sauce.
Some of 3 different puddings!
Exercise
Cycling: 45.3 miles
Booze
3 pints of ale
3 bottles of ale
about 3 or 4 glasses of cava/wine
I discuss this ride in more detail here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40020&t=12838500
I recovered during the afternoon and then Lucy and I went out for dinner with my family. I ate loads of unhealthy food and drank three pints. Then We went home and stayed up until 4am talking and drinking...
Food
rolled oats porridge with raisins and cranberries with soya milk
1 banana
2 wholemeal pittas with peanut butter
1 pint of soya milk
Salmon with new potatoes, chips, cabbage, potato wedges, mushrooms and sauce.
Some of 3 different puddings!
Exercise
Cycling: 45.3 miles
Booze
3 pints of ale
3 bottles of ale
about 3 or 4 glasses of cava/wine
Friday, 24 February 2012
Feb 24th - Day 55
Another good training day.
Cycled to work after healthy brekkie.
Cycled home for healthy dinner.
Weight-lifting.
Drank lots of water.
Off to bed now for an earlyish night.
Friday night rock and roll lifestyle!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
A few dried apricots
a handful of cashew nuts
baked chicken breast with Lucy's curried veggies [mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, kidney beans]
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Press-ups: 74
Tricep-dips: 74
Sit-ups: 74
Overhead presses [31kg]: 10/10/9
Bar curls [32kg]: 10/8/8
Squats [32kg]: 10/8/8
Dumbell curls [14kg]: 10/9/8
Booze
none
Cycled to work after healthy brekkie.
Cycled home for healthy dinner.
Weight-lifting.
Drank lots of water.
Off to bed now for an earlyish night.
Friday night rock and roll lifestyle!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
A few dried apricots
a handful of cashew nuts
baked chicken breast with Lucy's curried veggies [mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, kidney beans]
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Press-ups: 74
Tricep-dips: 74
Sit-ups: 74
Overhead presses [31kg]: 10/10/9
Bar curls [32kg]: 10/8/8
Squats [32kg]: 10/8/8
Dumbell curls [14kg]: 10/9/8
Booze
none
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Feb 23rd - Day 54
Quite a successful day today:
Healthy brekkie and then a bike ride into work.
At work, I just nibbled on fruit and nuts until it was time to cycle home for some weightlifting.
I remembered to increase the weight on the barbell tonight and it was a pretty hard session.
A very healthy dinner, plenty of water and no booze!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
1 banana
2 satsumas
2 handfuls of cashew nuts
2 dried apricots
2 baked salmon steaks with stir-fried veggies [kidney beans, mushrooms, tomatoes and peppers]
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
press-ups: 72
tricep-dips: 72
sit-ups: 72
barbell squats [32kg]: 9/8/8
barbell curls [32kg]: 9/8/8
Overhead presses [31kg]: 10/10/8
Dumbbell curls [14kg]: 10/8/8
Booze
none
Healthy brekkie and then a bike ride into work.
At work, I just nibbled on fruit and nuts until it was time to cycle home for some weightlifting.
I remembered to increase the weight on the barbell tonight and it was a pretty hard session.
A very healthy dinner, plenty of water and no booze!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
1 banana
2 satsumas
2 handfuls of cashew nuts
2 dried apricots
2 baked salmon steaks with stir-fried veggies [kidney beans, mushrooms, tomatoes and peppers]
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
press-ups: 72
tricep-dips: 72
sit-ups: 72
barbell squats [32kg]: 9/8/8
barbell curls [32kg]: 9/8/8
Overhead presses [31kg]: 10/10/8
Dumbbell curls [14kg]: 10/8/8
Booze
none
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Feb 22nd - Day 53
Cycled into work after a healthy breakfast.
Ate healthily at work and then home for a very strange weight lifting session...It was very strange because I was suddenly joined by three girls [and a dog] who took over the music and decided to re-write the training program! As a result, I found myself teaching Tilly how to squat and Martha how to curl while Mouse played us music from Tinie Tempa...
Unfortunately, all this wonderful distraction meant that I forgot that I'd advanced to 32kg for most of the barbell work and I did everything at 31kg. Oh well, still a good session!
Then I drank lots of water and watched Star Trek 5!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Two wholemeal pitta bread with hummus
3 satsumas
1 banana
Lucy's vegetarian cottage pie [made with Quorn] with organic green beans from Dad's allotment.
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Press-ups: 70
Tricep-dips: 70
Sit-ups: 70
Barbell curls [31kg]: 9/8/8
Barbell squats [31kg]: 9/8/8
Overhead Presses [31kg]: 10/9/8
Dumbell curls [14kg]: 9/8/8
Booze
none
Ate healthily at work and then home for a very strange weight lifting session...It was very strange because I was suddenly joined by three girls [and a dog] who took over the music and decided to re-write the training program! As a result, I found myself teaching Tilly how to squat and Martha how to curl while Mouse played us music from Tinie Tempa...
Unfortunately, all this wonderful distraction meant that I forgot that I'd advanced to 32kg for most of the barbell work and I did everything at 31kg. Oh well, still a good session!
Then I drank lots of water and watched Star Trek 5!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Two wholemeal pitta bread with hummus
3 satsumas
1 banana
Lucy's vegetarian cottage pie [made with Quorn] with organic green beans from Dad's allotment.
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Press-ups: 70
Tricep-dips: 70
Sit-ups: 70
Barbell curls [31kg]: 9/8/8
Barbell squats [31kg]: 9/8/8
Overhead Presses [31kg]: 10/9/8
Dumbell curls [14kg]: 9/8/8
Booze
none
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Feb 21st - Day 52
It's pancake day - so failed on the healthy eating, but still managed plenty of exercise and no booze.
I had two bad pancakes at work and one good pancake at home before I went of to my martial arts lesson. The lesson was incredibly hard tonight: the warm up had most of us gasping and sweating! We did lots of kata, basic kicks and punches and then got stuck into some one-step sparring. I got lumbered with an old brown belt bully who was hitting me about 10 times harder than he needed to. I wasn't about to let him know it was hurting however so I just let him keep hammering me without changing my expression. You'll be pleased to know that when it was my go I had him wincing and holding his ribs. "Sorry chap, didn't mean to hurt you," I said.
Serves him right, I hate bullies. My ribs are absolutely killing me now, but it was worth it!
Back home for lovely homecooked food and to read a bedtime story.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Lucy's homemade mushroom curry with brown rice [for lunch!]
1 banana
Handful of cashew nuts
2 naughty pancakes [white flour, sugar and plastic lemon juice]
1 good pancake [wholemeal flower, freshly squeezed lemon]
Lucy's homemade beef chilli
Exercise
90 minutes of martial arts
Booze
none
I had two bad pancakes at work and one good pancake at home before I went of to my martial arts lesson. The lesson was incredibly hard tonight: the warm up had most of us gasping and sweating! We did lots of kata, basic kicks and punches and then got stuck into some one-step sparring. I got lumbered with an old brown belt bully who was hitting me about 10 times harder than he needed to. I wasn't about to let him know it was hurting however so I just let him keep hammering me without changing my expression. You'll be pleased to know that when it was my go I had him wincing and holding his ribs. "Sorry chap, didn't mean to hurt you," I said.
Serves him right, I hate bullies. My ribs are absolutely killing me now, but it was worth it!
Back home for lovely homecooked food and to read a bedtime story.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Lucy's homemade mushroom curry with brown rice [for lunch!]
1 banana
Handful of cashew nuts
2 naughty pancakes [white flour, sugar and plastic lemon juice]
1 good pancake [wholemeal flower, freshly squeezed lemon]
Lucy's homemade beef chilli
Exercise
90 minutes of martial arts
Booze
none
Monday, 20 February 2012
Feb 20th - Day 51 [the new day 1!]
Well, I managed to eat healthily and lay off the booze. Unfortunately, there was no time for exercise today...
I did the school run this morning so didn't get chance to ride the bike.
After work I was a busy bee so didn't get chance to lift any weights. Oh well, dojo tomorrow...
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
tuna, pasta and salad
1 banana
1 satsuma
handful of cashew nuts
Lucy's homemade chicken curry, mushroom curry with brown rice and a small naan
Exercise
none
Booze
none
I did the school run this morning so didn't get chance to ride the bike.
After work I was a busy bee so didn't get chance to lift any weights. Oh well, dojo tomorrow...
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
tuna, pasta and salad
1 banana
1 satsuma
handful of cashew nuts
Lucy's homemade chicken curry, mushroom curry with brown rice and a small naan
Exercise
none
Booze
none
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Feb 19th - Day 50
General training fail.
Did 4 miles on the mountain bike with MontyDog.
Visited the in-laws for huge Sunday lunch with pudding.
Sipped Guinness and watched two hours of True Blood with my girl.
Stayed up late reading science fiction.
Tomorrow might be considered to be a new 'Day 1'. Or at least the beginning of my next level of training. The plan is this: no booze in the week, no crafty cakes or puddings, exercise everyday. Simples.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Lucy's homemade parsnip soup with bread roll
Pork dinner with loads of veggies and potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding
Jane's homemade treacle pudding with ice cream
Exercise
cycling: 4 miles
Booze
4 small cans of Guinness [the 440ml cans]
Did 4 miles on the mountain bike with MontyDog.
Visited the in-laws for huge Sunday lunch with pudding.
Sipped Guinness and watched two hours of True Blood with my girl.
Stayed up late reading science fiction.
Tomorrow might be considered to be a new 'Day 1'. Or at least the beginning of my next level of training. The plan is this: no booze in the week, no crafty cakes or puddings, exercise everyday. Simples.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Lucy's homemade parsnip soup with bread roll
Pork dinner with loads of veggies and potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding
Jane's homemade treacle pudding with ice cream
Exercise
cycling: 4 miles
Booze
4 small cans of Guinness [the 440ml cans]
Feb 18th - Day 49
Up at 6:30 for porridge.
At Alvechurch by 8:30 to ride with the AMBS [Dan]. We were out for quite a long ride, going a new route which included some challenging gradients early on. My legs quickly started to suffer [I'm blaming the 40+ miles of cycling that I did yesterday] and an hour and a half later I was on the edge of a bonk. Dan forced me to eat cake at the Lickey Hills cafe and then we rode back in the rain. I was completely drained and limped home in the little gears. Embarrassingly for me, Dan had done the whole ride on a single-speed bike! And he was still smiling...
Back at home, I cycled slowly to the Post Office and back. I spent the rest of the day adding old books and CDs to ebay and watching Pokemon films with Martha!
In the evening I ate lots of curry and drank lots of booze with Lucy.
I've decided that the training will have to go up a gear as from Monday...
Food
Rolled oats porridge with raisins and cranberries
Rice Krispie cake
Oatcakes with hummus
Lucy's homemade chicken curry and mushroom curry with naan and brown rice.
Exercise
2 hours of off-road mountain biking. [around 12-15 miles?]
Booze
2 bottles of ale
3 glasses of cava
At Alvechurch by 8:30 to ride with the AMBS [Dan]. We were out for quite a long ride, going a new route which included some challenging gradients early on. My legs quickly started to suffer [I'm blaming the 40+ miles of cycling that I did yesterday] and an hour and a half later I was on the edge of a bonk. Dan forced me to eat cake at the Lickey Hills cafe and then we rode back in the rain. I was completely drained and limped home in the little gears. Embarrassingly for me, Dan had done the whole ride on a single-speed bike! And he was still smiling...
Back at home, I cycled slowly to the Post Office and back. I spent the rest of the day adding old books and CDs to ebay and watching Pokemon films with Martha!
In the evening I ate lots of curry and drank lots of booze with Lucy.
I've decided that the training will have to go up a gear as from Monday...
Food
Rolled oats porridge with raisins and cranberries
Rice Krispie cake
Oatcakes with hummus
Lucy's homemade chicken curry and mushroom curry with naan and brown rice.
Exercise
2 hours of off-road mountain biking. [around 12-15 miles?]
Booze
2 bottles of ale
3 glasses of cava
Friday, 17 February 2012
Feb 17th - Day 48
I woke up determined to make an improvement in my training after being rather embarrassed yesterday.
Healthy brekkie and then on to the mountain bike to have a blast around the park with MontyDog [3.7miles]
After this I got on the road bike to do a long ride on an empty stomach. At the halfway point I allowed myself to eat the one (smashed) McVities biscuit bar that I found at the bottom of my rucksack. Unfortunately, Sportstracker went bonkers during the ride [top speed of 41mph?] and missed off the middle 5 miles of the ride. According to the bike computer the ride stats are: 37.55 miles at 12.9mph with a top speed of 25.7mph.
I was very drained by the end of the ride and found it a little difficult to walk afterwards. However, I know if I keep riding like this, and then adding on the miles, my fitness and speed will improve.
At home, I snacked on peanut butter and pitta and then Lucy fed me loads of healthy stuff. I then spoiled all her hard work with a Rice Krispie cake and beer!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Wholemeal pitta with peanut butter
Rice Krispie cake
2 salmon steaks with noodles and stir-fried veg.
Exercise
Cycling: 41.25 miles
Booze
1 bottle of ale
1 glass of cava
Healthy brekkie and then on to the mountain bike to have a blast around the park with MontyDog [3.7miles]
After this I got on the road bike to do a long ride on an empty stomach. At the halfway point I allowed myself to eat the one (smashed) McVities biscuit bar that I found at the bottom of my rucksack. Unfortunately, Sportstracker went bonkers during the ride [top speed of 41mph?] and missed off the middle 5 miles of the ride. According to the bike computer the ride stats are: 37.55 miles at 12.9mph with a top speed of 25.7mph.
I was very drained by the end of the ride and found it a little difficult to walk afterwards. However, I know if I keep riding like this, and then adding on the miles, my fitness and speed will improve.
At home, I snacked on peanut butter and pitta and then Lucy fed me loads of healthy stuff. I then spoiled all her hard work with a Rice Krispie cake and beer!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Wholemeal pitta with peanut butter
Rice Krispie cake
2 salmon steaks with noodles and stir-fried veg.
Exercise
Cycling: 41.25 miles
Booze
1 bottle of ale
1 glass of cava
Feb 16th - Day 47
Up at 6:30 for porridge.
Drove out to Cannock Chase to meet Deadly Dan, Fast Ant, and Dangerous Dave. We rode the red trails which consist of lots of climbing up hills, lots of bouncing down hills and lots and lots of pedalling.
It quickly became clear that my 'training' so far has done NOTHING and I had no hope of keeping up with Ant and Dave. I could ride with Dan but that's because he's still recovering from a cracked rib!
The video is here:
We were all fuelled by Lucy's fabulous flapjack.
I visited Mom and the way back to Monkspath and enjoyed a sandwich, a chat and a quick power nap on the couch!
At home, there was a party atmosphere with a grand total of 14 people in the house! There was a lot of booze and a lot of chocolate...
Food
Rolled oats porridge with soya milk with raisins and cranberries
Lots of homemade flapjack
Boiled bacon and salad sandwich on white bread
Chicken, chilli, fried peppers and salad.
Lots of chocolate rice krispie cakes!
Exercise
Cycling: 14 miles off-road.
Booze
3 or 4 glasses of cava
1 bottle of ale
Drove out to Cannock Chase to meet Deadly Dan, Fast Ant, and Dangerous Dave. We rode the red trails which consist of lots of climbing up hills, lots of bouncing down hills and lots and lots of pedalling.
It quickly became clear that my 'training' so far has done NOTHING and I had no hope of keeping up with Ant and Dave. I could ride with Dan but that's because he's still recovering from a cracked rib!
The video is here:
We were all fuelled by Lucy's fabulous flapjack.
I visited Mom and the way back to Monkspath and enjoyed a sandwich, a chat and a quick power nap on the couch!
At home, there was a party atmosphere with a grand total of 14 people in the house! There was a lot of booze and a lot of chocolate...
Food
Rolled oats porridge with soya milk with raisins and cranberries
Lots of homemade flapjack
Boiled bacon and salad sandwich on white bread
Chicken, chilli, fried peppers and salad.
Lots of chocolate rice krispie cakes!
Exercise
Cycling: 14 miles off-road.
Booze
3 or 4 glasses of cava
1 bottle of ale
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Feb 14th - Day 45 [very late]
The 'booze and puddings' training continues...
After Valentine's presents were exchanged [yay, handwarmers!] I leapt on to the bike in the morning in an effort to get rid of the last of the hangover. I cycled to the post office and back twice [because I forgot my lock the first time] and then took Monty Dog to the park. He enjoys racing behind me through the park and then, when we get into the muddy hilly bits in the trees, he likes to run in front barking his head off. We found a set of narrow concrete paths stretching away from the park leading under roads and alongside carparks. So we followed those for a while. After dropping Monty off I cycled down to Halfords and back. I'd estimate at least 10 miles on the mtb today.
Back at home and the girls were making...cakes. Rice Krispie cakes and brownies. Bugger...
Lucy and I went out to dinner where I scoffed a fantastic dinner and a couple of pints and then back home for cava and brownies and ice cream.
Am I training for a cycling event or an eating contest?
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
2 of Tilly's homemade Rice Krispie cakes
2 small wholemeal pitta with hummus
leek and potato soup with white bread
Salmon wellington with potatoes
Mouse's homemade brownie with ice cream
Exercise
Cycling: 10+ miles [mostly offroad]
Booze
3 glasses of cava
2 pints of Tribute ale
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Feb 13th - Day 44
Day off
Massive hangover = most of the day in bed, comfort food, a glass of red wine and an ale.
Training will begin again on Tuesday.
Massive hangover = most of the day in bed, comfort food, a glass of red wine and an ale.
Training will begin again on Tuesday.
Feb 12th - Day 43 [amazingly late]
The day started off in the best possible way - with a bicycle ride. I took the mountain bike out because I thought the roads would still be dodgy. However, the roads were pretty clear of snow/ice around by me. Very different to Alvechurch! I was about 4 miles in when I realised that I'd left the house without having breakfast. I don't think I've cycled on an empty stomach before. Anyway, I did 12 miles and then had some porridge.
After brekkie, I got the Boardman out and did a further 18 miles in the country lanes [18.06 miles at 12.2mph]. It was ace, but it became apparent that I STILL haven't got the setting right on my saddle. There's no way I can ride 75 miles with a numb gentleman's area...
Anyway, Lucy and the kids had gone to spend the night in London which meant that I was free to enjoy a quiet sociable evening with Robbie Stait.
12 hours later and I passed out after a blizzard of beer, champagne, curry and cold sausages!
Food
Porridge
Everything that's bad for you in huge amounts.
Exercise
Cycling: 30.5 miles
Booze
Countless pints of beer and a bottle of champagne.
After brekkie, I got the Boardman out and did a further 18 miles in the country lanes [18.06 miles at 12.2mph]. It was ace, but it became apparent that I STILL haven't got the setting right on my saddle. There's no way I can ride 75 miles with a numb gentleman's area...
Anyway, Lucy and the kids had gone to spend the night in London which meant that I was free to enjoy a quiet sociable evening with Robbie Stait.
12 hours later and I passed out after a blizzard of beer, champagne, curry and cold sausages!
Food
Porridge
Everything that's bad for you in huge amounts.
Exercise
Cycling: 30.5 miles
Booze
Countless pints of beer and a bottle of champagne.
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Feb 11th - Day 42
6 weeks of training...
Up at 6:30am to eat porridge. My eyes hurt.
The drive to Dan's was a little sketchy because the roads became worse the closer I got to Alvechurch. When I got there, I was surprised to discover that there was frozen snow everywhere! In Solihull it was merely frosty.
Dan had prepared handwarmers which were very welcome because my fingers kept trying to go numb during the first few miles. We got onto the canal [which was frozen] and tried to get up a decent pace in order to get warm. By the time we got to the bottom of the Lickeys I was sweating and my hands were fine. The climbs weren't too bad either, considering my back tyre was decidedly worn. Dan, however, was positively flying up the inclines, especially now he was equipped with brand new off-road tyres.
I managed to fall off my bike in the car park when I tried to ride on a sheet of ice.
Downhill was just fun. My back wheel kept trying to step out, my front wheel didn't want to turn.
I spent a lot of time going sideways.
We laughed a lot and took some photos.
It was one of the best rides I've done:
At home, I decided that I still had a bit of energy to burn so I jumped back on the bike and did another 6 miles around Solihull.
In the evening I did a decent weights session and then settled down in front of the box with a couple of beers.
Food
Rolled oats porridge made with soya milk with raisins and cranberries
Organic peanut butter on pitta bread
Lamb shank with mashed potatoes and green beans
Exercise
Cycling: 17.4 miles
Press-ups: 68
Tricep-dips: 68
Sit-ups: 68
Dumbell curls [14kg]: 8/8/8
Squats [32kg]: 8/8/8
Barbell curls [32kg]: 8/8/8
Overhead presses [31kg]: 10/8/8/
Booze
2 bottles of ale
Friday, 10 February 2012
Feb 10th - Day 41
Healthy brekkie
Cycle to work
Healthy lunch
Cycle home
Homemade curry
Lots of water
I had intended to do a weight session tonight but I didn't get time. I'm happy that I resisted a beer on a Friday night, though. Went to bed at midnight to get some sleep ready for riding with the AMBS in the morning.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
6 oatcakes with hummus
2 bananas
1 satsuma
Lucy's wonderful homemade chicken curry with brown rice.
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Booze
none
Cycle to work
Healthy lunch
Cycle home
Homemade curry
Lots of water
I had intended to do a weight session tonight but I didn't get time. I'm happy that I resisted a beer on a Friday night, though. Went to bed at midnight to get some sleep ready for riding with the AMBS in the morning.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
6 oatcakes with hummus
2 bananas
1 satsuma
Lucy's wonderful homemade chicken curry with brown rice.
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Booze
none
Feb 9th - Day 40
40 days of training? I think I was fitter before I started my cava-based regime.
Today was a general FAIL in terms of training with terrible diet and plenty of booze. At least I cycled to work today.
Aside: we went to see Coriolanus at the cinema tonight. My wonderful girlfriend had booked one of the comfy leather sofas with waitress service at the Electric cinema. I drank Ubu and thought about how lucky I was. The film itself was rather good [and rather brutal]. I had no knowledge of the plot of Coriolanus but I was able to follow and enjoy most of what was going on. I would advise you to have a good grasp of Shakespeare in general before watching it though, otherwise you might find it a little bit too challenging.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Leftover spicy rice
1 banana
1 satsuma
Potato waffles, beans, mushrooms, quarter of a pizza and two chicken burgers...
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Booze
2 bottles of ale
1 large glass of white wine
Today was a general FAIL in terms of training with terrible diet and plenty of booze. At least I cycled to work today.
Aside: we went to see Coriolanus at the cinema tonight. My wonderful girlfriend had booked one of the comfy leather sofas with waitress service at the Electric cinema. I drank Ubu and thought about how lucky I was. The film itself was rather good [and rather brutal]. I had no knowledge of the plot of Coriolanus but I was able to follow and enjoy most of what was going on. I would advise you to have a good grasp of Shakespeare in general before watching it though, otherwise you might find it a little bit too challenging.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Leftover spicy rice
1 banana
1 satsuma
Potato waffles, beans, mushrooms, quarter of a pizza and two chicken burgers...
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Booze
2 bottles of ale
1 large glass of white wine
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
8th Feb - Day 39
Cycled to work today - still on the mountain bike because I don't trust the conditions. It's sooooo slow compared to the Boardman but it's a much better workout!
Cycling home wasn't much fun. The cold I had is still making it's presence felt and it was a proper snotfest on the way back to Monkspath!
At home, I did some weight training. I'm up to 10 reps on most of the exercises now so next time I'll drop back down to 8 reps but increase the weight a little. I found that I could do the overhead presses now so the shoulder must be healed [after my bike crash].
After weight-training, I couldn't resist a drink with my dinner...
Food
Lucy's homemade museli with soya milk
1 banana
1 satsuma
some cashew nuts
tuna and sweetcorn with brown rice and salad
Salmon steak with Lucy's spicy rice and veggies.
Exercise
66 press-ups
66 tricep-dips
66 sit-ups
Barbell curls [31kg]: 10/10/10
Barbell squats [31kg]: 10/10/10
Overhead presses [31kg]: 9/8/8
dumbell curls [13kg]: 10/10/10
Booze
2 glasses of cava
1 bottle of ale
Cycling home wasn't much fun. The cold I had is still making it's presence felt and it was a proper snotfest on the way back to Monkspath!
At home, I did some weight training. I'm up to 10 reps on most of the exercises now so next time I'll drop back down to 8 reps but increase the weight a little. I found that I could do the overhead presses now so the shoulder must be healed [after my bike crash].
After weight-training, I couldn't resist a drink with my dinner...
Food
Lucy's homemade museli with soya milk
1 banana
1 satsuma
some cashew nuts
tuna and sweetcorn with brown rice and salad
Salmon steak with Lucy's spicy rice and veggies.
Exercise
66 press-ups
66 tricep-dips
66 sit-ups
Barbell curls [31kg]: 10/10/10
Barbell squats [31kg]: 10/10/10
Overhead presses [31kg]: 9/8/8
dumbell curls [13kg]: 10/10/10
Booze
2 glasses of cava
1 bottle of ale
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
7th Feb - Day 38
Didn't get to cycle today - school run on Tuesdays. Playing football with Mouse in a deserted, frozen playground was quite a way to start the day!
This evening, I attended the martial arts lesson even though I'm still full of cold. [My sore throat isn't as bad, I'm just really stuffy.] It was a medium-paced session, lots of stop-starting, so didn't really get a sweat on. But it was good to stretch the muscles and hit some pads and people.
At home, got stuck into Lucy's insanely hot chilli and drank lots of water.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
1 banana
1 satsuma
2 small wholemeal pitta with hummus
Lucy's beef chilli with brown rice and sour cream.
Exercise
90 minutes of modern karate
Booze
none
This evening, I attended the martial arts lesson even though I'm still full of cold. [My sore throat isn't as bad, I'm just really stuffy.] It was a medium-paced session, lots of stop-starting, so didn't really get a sweat on. But it was good to stretch the muscles and hit some pads and people.
At home, got stuck into Lucy's insanely hot chilli and drank lots of water.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
1 banana
1 satsuma
2 small wholemeal pitta with hummus
Lucy's beef chilli with brown rice and sour cream.
Exercise
90 minutes of modern karate
Booze
none
Monday, 6 February 2012
Feb 6th - Day 37
Only managed to get about 3 hours sleep last night [if that]. My throat felt like it was on fire and it even hurt to swallow. I was up reading science fiction until 3am!
My amazing girlfriend was up and out at Tesco as soon as it opened [6am] and got me some Dequacaine and Lemsip!
After a healthy breakfast I struggled onto the mountain bike and span off into the slush to work.
Cycled back home but was nowhere near healthy enough for any weight lifting. I was totally drained after the ride back.
Ate healthily, didn't drink any booze, and filled myself full of Lemsip. Hopefully I'll sleep tonight.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Half a chicken and salad sandwich
Loads of cherries
Dried fruit
Teece's random stir fry [orange pepper, onion, mushrooms, tomatoes, chicken]
Large helping of natural yoghurt.
Exercise
9.2 miles of cycling
Booze
none
My amazing girlfriend was up and out at Tesco as soon as it opened [6am] and got me some Dequacaine and Lemsip!
After a healthy breakfast I struggled onto the mountain bike and span off into the slush to work.
Cycled back home but was nowhere near healthy enough for any weight lifting. I was totally drained after the ride back.
Ate healthily, didn't drink any booze, and filled myself full of Lemsip. Hopefully I'll sleep tonight.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Half a chicken and salad sandwich
Loads of cherries
Dried fruit
Teece's random stir fry [orange pepper, onion, mushrooms, tomatoes, chicken]
Large helping of natural yoghurt.
Exercise
9.2 miles of cycling
Booze
none
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Feb 5th - Day 36
Day off
I'm totally ill with this cold - sore throat, coughing and aching.
So, I did no exercise and ate comfort food including ice cream!
Will resume normal service as soon as possible.
I'm totally ill with this cold - sore throat, coughing and aching.
So, I did no exercise and ate comfort food including ice cream!
Will resume normal service as soon as possible.
Feb 4th - Day 35 [late]
I was up at 6:30 for porridge and then a bike ride with Rich. We got on the Rea Valley Route again but this time we headed into the city centre. It was eye-wateringly cold but we found a way of keeping the hands warm - wear latex gloves under your normal gloves. Your hands may smell like condoms but at least they'll be toasty!
We managed a speed of 6.9mph over 10.9 miles which shows that Rich's fitness is improving already. Ah, the wonders of cycling. Anyway, details are here:
http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/Teece/4kcp05b9gphnhct7
I then cycled from Monskpath to Solihull and back [5.4miles] on the mountain bike. Unfortunately, by the time I'd got home I was feeling like crap: sore throat and aching all over. I was tempted to lift some weights but I've heard that lifting while you're ill can do more harm than good.
Then the snow came and I spent the rest of night in a huge snowball fight and building walls out of the stuff. Got home sweaty, happy, but still rather ill!
Food
Rolled oats porridge made with soya milk and raisins and cranberries.
Two wholemeal toast with organic peanut butter.
A large handful of chocolates and sweets that the girls gave me.
Lucy's homemade paella with 2 salmon steaks and asparagus [awesome!]
Exercise
Cycling: 16.3 miles
Booze
1 bottle of ale
1 glass of cava
Friday, 3 February 2012
Feb 3rd - Day 34
Manboobs?
Cycled in on the mountain bike again today. It's so much harder work than the road bike.
Anyway, there's a big mirror at the top of the corridor in the Supported Learning department and you can't help but look at yourself as you walk up it. And it would appear, according to that mirror, that I have manboobs. This is distressing in the extreme and something must be done.
I'm not sure what, though...
Cycled home for a quick weights session. I tested the shoulder but it's still not ready for overhead presses yet, so I stuck with the curls and squats.
In the evening, I sipped cava and had a bottle of beer with my fabulous dinner of beef that was so tender it was literally coming apart on the fork. Nom nom nom.
Very early to bed [before 10!]
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Chicken, hummus and salad on wholemeal roll
dried fruit
1 banana
1 satsuma
fantastic beef dinner with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, peas, sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, runner beans, green beans and awesome gravy
1 Quality Street [the blue one]
Exercise
cycling: 9.2 miles
press-ups: 64
Tricep-dips: 64
sit-ups: 64
Dumbell curls [13kg]: 10/10/9
Barbell squats [31kg]: 10/10/9
Barbell curls [31kg]: 10/10/9
Booze
3 glasses of cava
1 bottle of ale
Cycled in on the mountain bike again today. It's so much harder work than the road bike.
Anyway, there's a big mirror at the top of the corridor in the Supported Learning department and you can't help but look at yourself as you walk up it. And it would appear, according to that mirror, that I have manboobs. This is distressing in the extreme and something must be done.
I'm not sure what, though...
Cycled home for a quick weights session. I tested the shoulder but it's still not ready for overhead presses yet, so I stuck with the curls and squats.
In the evening, I sipped cava and had a bottle of beer with my fabulous dinner of beef that was so tender it was literally coming apart on the fork. Nom nom nom.
Very early to bed [before 10!]
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Chicken, hummus and salad on wholemeal roll
dried fruit
1 banana
1 satsuma
fantastic beef dinner with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, peas, sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, runner beans, green beans and awesome gravy
1 Quality Street [the blue one]
Exercise
cycling: 9.2 miles
press-ups: 64
Tricep-dips: 64
sit-ups: 64
Dumbell curls [13kg]: 10/10/9
Barbell squats [31kg]: 10/10/9
Barbell curls [31kg]: 10/10/9
Booze
3 glasses of cava
1 bottle of ale
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Feb 2nd - Day 33
Just ticking over today, no real training happened.
Cycled to work on the mountain bike again.
Ate healthily for most of the day and only had the one beer.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli
2 small wholemeal pitta with hummus
some dried fruit
2 satsumas
Lucy's Quorn bolognese with wholewheat spaghetti and some garlic bread.
2 quality street
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Booze
1 bottle of fantastic IPA
Cycled to work on the mountain bike again.
Ate healthily for most of the day and only had the one beer.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli
2 small wholemeal pitta with hummus
some dried fruit
2 satsumas
Lucy's Quorn bolognese with wholewheat spaghetti and some garlic bread.
2 quality street
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Booze
1 bottle of fantastic IPA
Feb 1st - Day 32 [very late]
I'm enjoying myself too much...
Cycled into work after a healthy breakfast. I opted to ride the mountain bike today - it's a much safer bike compared to the Boardman. The mountain bike is twice as heavy and has wide knobbly tires - which is a lot more useful in the frosty conditions. Unfortunately, it's a lot of hard work to get the MTB up to speed which meant I was sweating when I got to work - something I don't do when I commute on the road machine.
Cycled home on the cycle paths because my headlight is still strapped to the road bike!
At home I did an intense [rushed] lifting session, made dinner and then collapsed next to Lucy and drank loads of wine.
I really must think about cutting down the booze if I want any of this training to have an effect!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli
Chicken salad
2 satsumas
1 banana
Teece's mushroom tagletelliteta [Mushrooms, onions, garlic, white wine, double cream, tomatoes, tagletitletlitleeiitta pasta]
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Press-ups: 62
Tricep-dips: 62
Sit-ups: 62
Bar curls [31kg]: 10/10/8
Bar squats [31kg]: 10/10/8
Dumbell curls [31kg]: 10/10/8
Booze
1 small bottle of lager
1 bottle of white wine
Cycled into work after a healthy breakfast. I opted to ride the mountain bike today - it's a much safer bike compared to the Boardman. The mountain bike is twice as heavy and has wide knobbly tires - which is a lot more useful in the frosty conditions. Unfortunately, it's a lot of hard work to get the MTB up to speed which meant I was sweating when I got to work - something I don't do when I commute on the road machine.
Cycled home on the cycle paths because my headlight is still strapped to the road bike!
At home I did an intense [rushed] lifting session, made dinner and then collapsed next to Lucy and drank loads of wine.
I really must think about cutting down the booze if I want any of this training to have an effect!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli
Chicken salad
2 satsumas
1 banana
Teece's mushroom tagletelliteta [Mushrooms, onions, garlic, white wine, double cream, tomatoes, tagletitletlitleeiitta pasta]
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Press-ups: 62
Tricep-dips: 62
Sit-ups: 62
Bar curls [31kg]: 10/10/8
Bar squats [31kg]: 10/10/8
Dumbell curls [31kg]: 10/10/8
Booze
1 small bottle of lager
1 bottle of white wine
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Jan 31st - Day 31
Another day of driving children [and a dog] around in the morning, so no bike action. Which is just as well because the roads are getting a bit slippery.
Managed to eat healthily all day until I got stuck into a big beef chilli!
Martial arts was a bit stop-start this evening but at least we got to do some decent pad work in the last 15 minutes. I'm aching all over now as I write this.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
2 satsumas
1 banana
2 small wholemeal pitta with hummus
Lucy's homemade beef chilli with two small wholemeal pitta
Exercise
90 mins of martial arts training
Booze
None
Managed to eat healthily all day until I got stuck into a big beef chilli!
Martial arts was a bit stop-start this evening but at least we got to do some decent pad work in the last 15 minutes. I'm aching all over now as I write this.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
2 satsumas
1 banana
2 small wholemeal pitta with hummus
Lucy's homemade beef chilli with two small wholemeal pitta
Exercise
90 mins of martial arts training
Booze
None
Monday, 30 January 2012
Jan 30th - Day 30
Drove into work today after dropping the girls off. Ate well all day, apart from succumbing to the temptation of Quality Street. Twice.
Managed to do some exercise at home although the dodgy shoulder still won't let me do any overhead presses.
Drank plenty of water and now I'm off to bed before midnight. Result!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
1 satsuma
1 banana
cashew nuts
tuna, sweetcorn, salad and cold brown rice
Last night's reheated curry with a bit of leftover naan and brown rice.
2 Quality Street
Exercise
sit-ups: 60
Press-ups: 60
tricep-dips: 60
Barbell curls [31kg]: 10/9/8
Bar squats [31kg]: 10/9/8
Dumbell curls [13kg]: 10/9/8
Booze
none
Managed to do some exercise at home although the dodgy shoulder still won't let me do any overhead presses.
Drank plenty of water and now I'm off to bed before midnight. Result!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
1 satsuma
1 banana
cashew nuts
tuna, sweetcorn, salad and cold brown rice
Last night's reheated curry with a bit of leftover naan and brown rice.
2 Quality Street
Exercise
sit-ups: 60
Press-ups: 60
tricep-dips: 60
Barbell curls [31kg]: 10/9/8
Bar squats [31kg]: 10/9/8
Dumbell curls [13kg]: 10/9/8
Booze
none
Sunday, 29 January 2012
29th Jan - Day 29 [very late]
Up at 6:30 to do a ride on the Boardman. The idea was to do the same 40 mile route that I did last week, but to do it in a faster time.
Unfortunately, it was a lot colder this weekend. After two minutes on the bike, it was obvious that my hands were going to suffer. I was wearing my Lycra shorts and a thin jacket, but I knew that my body would warm up. However, my hands, even clad in Sealskin waterproof winter gloves, were simply going to get colder and colder...
I gave myself until the 8 mile mark to see if I had warmed up enough to carry on, but by the time I'd done those 8 miles my hands were completely numb and I couldn't use the brakes properly. I tried to persevere but at just over 9 miles, when faced with an A road, I called it a day and turned round.
http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/Teece/cb5ahkid2gp6umcv
It took over an hour at home, under a thick blanket with my gloves still on, to get the feeling back in my hands. Bad circulation perhaps?
The rest of the day was good with some very tasty food, some DIY with Eric and even some weight-lifting. Curry and cava resulted in me taking a little power-nap at about 8 o'clock...
Food
Rolled oats porridge with cranberries and raisins
three potato waffles, egg and beans, mushrooms
Lucy's fantastic chicken and mushroom curries with naan
apple crumble and ice cream!
3 Quality Street
Exercise
18 miles on the road bike
58 press-ups
58 sit-ups
58 tricep-dips
Dumbell curls [13kg]: 10/8/8
Barbell squats [31kg]: 10/8/8
Barbell curls [31kg]: 10/8/8
Booze
2 bottles of ale
3 glasses of cava
Unfortunately, it was a lot colder this weekend. After two minutes on the bike, it was obvious that my hands were going to suffer. I was wearing my Lycra shorts and a thin jacket, but I knew that my body would warm up. However, my hands, even clad in Sealskin waterproof winter gloves, were simply going to get colder and colder...
I gave myself until the 8 mile mark to see if I had warmed up enough to carry on, but by the time I'd done those 8 miles my hands were completely numb and I couldn't use the brakes properly. I tried to persevere but at just over 9 miles, when faced with an A road, I called it a day and turned round.
http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/Teece/cb5ahkid2gp6umcv
It took over an hour at home, under a thick blanket with my gloves still on, to get the feeling back in my hands. Bad circulation perhaps?
The rest of the day was good with some very tasty food, some DIY with Eric and even some weight-lifting. Curry and cava resulted in me taking a little power-nap at about 8 o'clock...
Food
Rolled oats porridge with cranberries and raisins
three potato waffles, egg and beans, mushrooms
Lucy's fantastic chicken and mushroom curries with naan
apple crumble and ice cream!
3 Quality Street
Exercise
18 miles on the road bike
58 press-ups
58 sit-ups
58 tricep-dips
Dumbell curls [13kg]: 10/8/8
Barbell squats [31kg]: 10/8/8
Barbell curls [31kg]: 10/8/8
Booze
2 bottles of ale
3 glasses of cava
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Jan 28th - Day 28
After brekkie, I met my mate Rich in Canon Hill Park to do a bit of cycling. He'd borrowed a Giant mountain bike and was about to turn a pedal for the first time in over 20 years.
It was bloody cold.
Anyway, after I'd recovered from a severe case of new bike envy, we set off along the Rea Valley Cycle Route and then onto the canal heading southeast. We did over 8 miles which is quite good for a first-timer. People on the cycling forum I'm a member of state that a trip of around 2 miles is not uncommon for a complete beginner.
Our route:
http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/Teece/a6mmam4cv8l330bg
Back at home it was a case of doing some DIY with my mate Eric. This involved me carrying fence panels while Eric blasphemed a lot and did things with self-tapping screws and a drill.
Self-tapping screws?
In the evening, after picking up 6 girls from the cinema (it was a noisy car), I had a healthy dinner and then attempted to lift some weights. It was a little difficult because I was still sore from the crash yesterday. I could do curls and squats, but it was far too painful to do any overhead presses.
Early to bed, no booze!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
2 wholemeal pitta with tomatoes and hummus
4 vegetarian burgers with sirfry [onions, peppers, mushrooms] and wholewheat noodles
2 Quality Street [the purple one and the green triangle]
Exercise
Cycling [mountain bike]: 8.4 miles
56 press-ups
56 sit-ups
56 tricep-dips
Dumbell curls [13kg]: 9/8/8
Barbell squats [31kg]: 9/8/8
Barbell curls [31kg]: 9/8/8
Overhead presses [31kg]: 1/0/0
Booze
None
It was bloody cold.
Anyway, after I'd recovered from a severe case of new bike envy, we set off along the Rea Valley Cycle Route and then onto the canal heading southeast. We did over 8 miles which is quite good for a first-timer. People on the cycling forum I'm a member of state that a trip of around 2 miles is not uncommon for a complete beginner.
Our route:
http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/Teece/a6mmam4cv8l330bg
Back at home it was a case of doing some DIY with my mate Eric. This involved me carrying fence panels while Eric blasphemed a lot and did things with self-tapping screws and a drill.
Self-tapping screws?
In the evening, after picking up 6 girls from the cinema (it was a noisy car), I had a healthy dinner and then attempted to lift some weights. It was a little difficult because I was still sore from the crash yesterday. I could do curls and squats, but it was far too painful to do any overhead presses.
Early to bed, no booze!
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
2 wholemeal pitta with tomatoes and hummus
4 vegetarian burgers with sirfry [onions, peppers, mushrooms] and wholewheat noodles
2 Quality Street [the purple one and the green triangle]
Exercise
Cycling [mountain bike]: 8.4 miles
56 press-ups
56 sit-ups
56 tricep-dips
Dumbell curls [13kg]: 9/8/8
Barbell squats [31kg]: 9/8/8
Barbell curls [31kg]: 9/8/8
Overhead presses [31kg]: 1/0/0
Booze
None
Friday, 27 January 2012
Jan 27th - Day 27
On the way to work I fell off my bike.
A local lady let her toddler toddle into the road outside Hall Green library just as I was rounding the bend at 19mph. I pulled on the brakes causing the bike to slip from under me and shoot out to the left. I landed on my right shoulder. The lady commented, "Oh, it's pretty slippery there."
I commented that a child in the road was an additional hazard.
My right arm stiffended up immediately but it wasn't very painful.
About 7 hours later, when I'm beginning to get ready to go home, the whole of my right arm is aching and all the muscles in the left side of my neck are incredibly tender. I have an ache just on the left side of my face. I guess I went down harder than I thought...
In the evening, I meet my mate for a couple of pints and then head home for another bottle of ale and to grab a handful of sweets because I'm incredibly hungry.
Oh well, a crap day for training.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Chicken and salad
1 banana
1 satsuma
Cashew nuts
6 of Tilly's homemade fishfingers
a handful of Quality Street
Exercise
9.2 miles of cycling
Booze
2 pints of weak lager
1 bottle of ale
A local lady let her toddler toddle into the road outside Hall Green library just as I was rounding the bend at 19mph. I pulled on the brakes causing the bike to slip from under me and shoot out to the left. I landed on my right shoulder. The lady commented, "Oh, it's pretty slippery there."
I commented that a child in the road was an additional hazard.
My right arm stiffended up immediately but it wasn't very painful.
About 7 hours later, when I'm beginning to get ready to go home, the whole of my right arm is aching and all the muscles in the left side of my neck are incredibly tender. I have an ache just on the left side of my face. I guess I went down harder than I thought...
In the evening, I meet my mate for a couple of pints and then head home for another bottle of ale and to grab a handful of sweets because I'm incredibly hungry.
Oh well, a crap day for training.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
Chicken and salad
1 banana
1 satsuma
Cashew nuts
6 of Tilly's homemade fishfingers
a handful of Quality Street
Exercise
9.2 miles of cycling
Booze
2 pints of weak lager
1 bottle of ale
Jan 26th - Day 26 [very late]
Cycled to work and back today and had my usual healthy breakfast and lunch.
Then my parents came to visit and Lucy had put on a fantastic spread including booze and 2 puddings...
All thoughts of training went out of the window and I got stuck into real ale and ice cream.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
6 oatcakes with hummus
1 banana
1 satsuma
cashew nuts
chicken with sprouts, green beans, peas, broccoli, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and gravy.
Lucy's homemade apple crumble with ice cream
Lucy's homemade rice pudding with jam
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Booze
2 bottle of real ale
Then my parents came to visit and Lucy had put on a fantastic spread including booze and 2 puddings...
All thoughts of training went out of the window and I got stuck into real ale and ice cream.
Food
Lucy's homemade muesli with soya milk
6 oatcakes with hummus
1 banana
1 satsuma
cashew nuts
chicken with sprouts, green beans, peas, broccoli, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and gravy.
Lucy's homemade apple crumble with ice cream
Lucy's homemade rice pudding with jam
Exercise
Cycling: 9.2 miles
Booze
2 bottle of real ale
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